A Wokingham town centre pub has been allowed to keep putting on DJ nights until 2am at weekends – but a neighbour has pledged to fight the decision.
The Redan in Peach Street has been operating as the main cocktail bar in the town since 2006. Last year, it underwent a £40,000 renovation, creating interior improvements and a covered outdoors area.
The area has been used to host DJ sets, as the pub has a licence for music until 2am and closure at 2.30am on Friday and Saturday nights.
Christina Davis, who lives in Rose Street, called for the licence to be reviewed by Wokingham borough council, saying the events caused a disturbance due to thudding house and rave music, and the behaviour of clients.
A hearing was held on June 30 to adjudicate on the review.
Andy Rogers, the manager and leaseholder, argued he has a good working relationship with the council’s environmental protection team to provide a safe and fun place for people to social at The Redan, which he called ‘Wokingham’s premier late night venue’.
Councillors ultimately decided to vary the licence conditions to conduct a noise management plan, which would introduce measures to limit noise levels.
However, Ms Davis, who works as a health visitor, intends to appeal the decision, accusing the council of bias towards the venue.
She said: “How on earth can this be?
“Nothing has been taken into consideration; there have been two serious attacks.”
She referred to incidents of assault recorded on May 31, and September 31, 2023.
Ms Davis added: “I contacted the council’s anti-social behaviour team on May 31.
“I said ‘can you attend urgently? The Redan is awful tonight’. They completely ignored me. 40 mins later a man was seriously injured.”
Ms Davis also argued that neighbours suffer from general disturbance from the venue.
She said: “People bang on doors, they shout, there is dreadful behaviour as they leave, and it comes from dispersal at the Redan.
“We’ve had a year of our lives stolen all since the refurbishment put the DJ outside. The public nuisance is very bad.
“The news has come as a massive shock, as the council has been biased towards the Redan, the other properties in Peach Place have not been permitted to go past midnight.”
She referred to the now closed Leafy Elephant gin bar, which adjusted its operating hours after neighbour objections to its application in 2018.
Ms Davis has the right to appeal to a magistrates’ court, as magistrates have the power to review the decision.
She said: “I am 100% making an appeal, which I have to do within 21 days,
“I’m appointing a solicitor, and I won’t stop until this is rectified.”
